HOLD –Rodgers, Dolphins-Bills lead weekend sports schedule

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) runs past Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis on a 48-yard reception for a touchdown Sunday at M&ampT Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, Sept. 23 (UPI) — High-octane NFL games top the weekend sports schedule, following dozens of college football battles. A Buffalo Bills-Miami Dolphins division test and an Aaron Rodgers-Tom Brady duel are the most anticipated matchups.

The President Cup golf tournament, dozens of MLB and soccer games from around the world, NASCAR’s Cup Series playoffs and boxing title bouts also should entertain sports fans from Friday through Sunday.

But the Week 3 NFL slate will draw the most eyes to TV, phone and tablet screens as all 32 teams take the field. The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers started the schedule with an AFC North Thursday Night Football matchup.

Sunday’s schedule features nine games with 1 p.m. EDT kickoffs. Another four games will air as part of the second wave of Sunday afternoon games. The Denver Broncos will then host the San Francisco 49ers on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

The Dolphins and Bills will face off in an AFC East division matchup, highlighting the 1 p.m. games. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is coming off a career-best six-touchdown, 469-yard performance. Allen’s Bills boast the top-scoring offense in the NFL.

“We understand that they’re a really good team,” Tagovailoa told reporters Wednesday. “That’s no secret. Everyone knows that they’re a really good team. They’re tough defensively, they’re explosive offensively.

“For us, we’re just looking at playing the way we play and playing the way we’ve played for the past two weeks and we’ll go out there, they’ll get our best and we’ll get theirs.”

The Dolphins and Bills game will air on CBS.

Allen, the NFL MVP favorite, and the Bills outscored the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans 72-17 in their first two games. The Dolphins beat the New England Patriots 20-7 in Week 1 and slipped by the Baltimore Ravens 42-38 in a Week 2 thriller.

The Bills won their last seven games against the Dolphins. The Dolphins’ last win over the Bills was Dec. 2, 2018. The Bills beat the Dolphins 35-0 last year in Miami Gardens, Fla. They also logged a 26-11 home win over the Dolphins. The Bills averaged 36.8 points per game amid their seven-game winning streak against the Dolphins.

“They put up a lot of points,” Bills coach Sean McDermott told reporters Thursday. “They do a great job offensive scheme wise. Dolphins coach [Mike McDaniel] does a great job of putting them in position to be successful. It will be a big challenge for us.”

The Bills are 5.5-point favorites.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Bills as the only 2-0 teams with games scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

The Chiefs will battle the Indianapolis Colts at 1 p.m. on CBS. The New England Patriots will host the Ravens at the same time on Fox. The Eagles also will face the Washington Commanders at 1 p.m. on Fox.

Brady’s undefeated Buccaneers will meet Rodgers’ 1-1 Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. Sunday on Fox. Brady-led teams are 3-2 in head-to-head matchups against Rodgers-led teams. Brady’s Buccaneers beat Rodgers’ packers twice in 2020-21, including in the NFC Championship Game en route to a Super Bowl title.

“He is a great competitor,” Rodgers told reporters Wednesday when asked about Brady. “I enjoy watching him play and enjoy the years and memories of watching. We’ve played a few times over the years. I have a lot of respect for his game and what he’s accomplished in this league.”

Brady ranks first in NFL history with 626 career touchdown passes. Rodgers ranks fifth, with 451.

The Packers lost to the Minnesota Vikings and beat the Chicago Bears to start the season. The Buccaneers beat the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys. The Buccaneers are favored by 3 points over the Packers.

The Broncos will host the 49ers at 8:20 p.m. Sunday on NBC. The New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night in the final game of Week 3.

Weekend schedule (all times EDT)

Friday

Soccer

International friendly: USMNT vs. Japan at 8:25 a.m. on ESPN2

Golf

Presidents Cup: Second round from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Golf Channel

College football

Virginia at Syracuse at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Nevada at Air Force at 8 p.m. on FS1

Boise State at UTEP at 9 p.m. on CBSSN

MLB

Red Sox at Yankees at 7 p.m. on Apple TV+

Cardinals at Dodgers at 10 p.m. on Apple TV+

Saturday

Golf

Presidents Cup: Third round from 7 to 8 a.m. on Golf Channel; from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on NBC

College football

Kent State at Georgia at noon on ESPN+

Maryland at Michigan at noon on Fox

Clemson at Wake Forest at noon on ABC

Central Michigan at Penn State at noon on Big Ten Network

Baylor at Iowa State at noon on ESPN2

Rhode Island at Pittsburgh at noon on ACC Network

Missouri at Auburn at noon on ESPN

Duke at Kansas at noon on FS1

Middle Tennessee at Miami at 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network

Texas at Texas Tech at 3:30 p.m. pon ESPN

Florida at Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. on CBS

Indiana at Cincinnati at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Toledo at San Diego State at 3:30 p.m. on FS1

Notre Dame at North Carolina at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Tulsa at Ole Miss at 4 p.m. on SEC Network

Oregon at Washington State at 4 p.m. on Fox

Northern Illinois at Kentucky at 7 p.m. on ESPN2

Arkansas vs. Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Iowa at Rutgers at 7 p.m. on FS1

Vanderbilt at Alabama at 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network

Wisconsin at Ohio State at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

UConn at NC State at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN3

Kansas State at Oklahoma at 8 p.m. on Fox

USC at Oregon State at 9:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network

Wyoming at BYU at 10:15 p.m. on ESPN2

Utah at Arizona State at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN

Stanford at Washington at 10:30 p.m. on FS1

MLB

Red Sox at Yankees at 1:05 p.m. on MLB Network

Soccer

MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy at San Jose at 10 p.m. on ESPN+

Sunday

Golf

Presidents Cup: Final round from noon to 6 p.m. on NBC

NFL

Saints at Panthers at 1 p.m. on Fox

Texas at Bears at 1 p.m. on CBS

Chiefs at Colts at 1 p.m. on CBS

Bills at Dolphins at 1 p.m. on CBS

Lions at Vikings at 1 p.m. on Fox

Ravens at Patriots at 1 p.m. on Fox

Bengals at Jets at 1 p.m. on CBS

Raiders at Titans at 1 p.m. on Fox

Eagles at Commanders at 1 p.m. on Fox

Jaguars at Chargers at 4:05 p.m. on CBS

Rams at Cardinals at 4:25 p.m. on Fox

Falcons at Seahawks at 4:25 p.m. on Fox

Packers at Buccaneers at 4:25 p.m. on Fox

49ers at Broncos at 8:20 p.m. on NBC

NASCAR

Cup Series Round of 12 AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 at 3:30 p.m. on USA Network

MLB

Red Sox at Yankees at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Damarion Williams deflects a touchdown pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle during the second half of an NFL game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on September 18, 2022. Miami won 42-38 after scoring four touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Photo by David Tulis/UPI | License Photo